computing

First reaction among those setting eyes on Apple's new iMac with Retina 5K Display after it was announced yesterday was typically along the lines of "Wow": even Tim Cook couldn't resist the charms of the 14.7m pixel all-in-one, and he knew it was coming. The second, though, from a few laterally-thinkers in the crowd, was to ask whether the iMac would support Target Display mode, and thus turn into a standalone 5K monitor for a plugged-in MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, that's just not the case, and in fact some big changes need to take place before we can even get a standalone 5K update for the aging Thunderbolt Display.

Samsung has launched a new version of its Chromebook 2, an 11.6-inch notebook running Google's Chrome OS and powered by an Intel processor rather than one of the South Korean's own Exynos ARM chips. The new notebook will drop at under $250, challenging low-cost Windows laptops in the process, while battery life will be a healthy nine hours according to Samsung's estimates. On the outside, meanwhile, there's a faux-leather finish which is likely to prove divisive among Chromebook buyers.

MacBook Air lovers may be crying out for a Retina display upgrade to their favorited ultraportable, but Apple will leave them wanting after Thursday's event, according to new leaks. A higher-resolution version of the MacBook Air, following its more expensive MacBook Pro sibling, has been rumored for some time now, with chatter back in July suggesting the pixel-packed notebook was headed into production imminently. However, for one reason or another, the new laptop won't actually be taking the stage in Cupertino this Thursday.

Google has just given the go signal for developers to start giving some thought to making their apps 64-bit ready in time for the next Android release. This comes with the release of a new emulator image for Android L preview, confirming that the next Android version will indeed be ready for a 64-bit mobile world. Whether that will translate into something that end users will actually be able to notice and appreciate will largely depend on the marriage between the software and the hardware.

Microsoft last week unveiled the long-awaited Windows 10. Well, it was long-awaited for those corporate customers suffering under the weight of Windows 8. But for the rest of us? Well, I’m not sure we really cared. I remember a time when Windows launches were big things. Back in the 1990s and even early-2000s, whenever Microsoft would hold a special event announcing the new Windows and showing it off, we’d be drooling over the possibilities.

USB Type-C won't just address the perennial frustration of trying to plug in your charger upside-down, but also double as a DisplayPort connection in a move that could well challenge Intel's Thunderbolt. DisplayPort Alternate Mode, announced by VESA today, will mean a single USB Type-C cable will be able to drive a 4K or higher resolution display, along with audio, USB 3.1 data, and even up to 100W of power.

Microsoft's Arc Touch Mouse, first announced back in September of 2010, has been given a modern-day makeover. Announced yesterday, Microsoft will be launching a new version of the mouse that uses Bluetooth connectivity rather than wireless USB, making it easier to use with modern devices.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that if you wanted a curved Samsung display you'd need to cough up thousands for one of its huge TVs, but a 27-inch display could bring some flexed screen tech to your desktop. The Samsung S27D590C isn't going to impress guests to quite the same extent as a 60-inch curved Ultra HD OLED might, but the claim is more immersive gaming and entertainment on a more domestic scale.

Early Windows 9 screenshots have leaked, with images believed to be from the Technical Preview giving an early indication of how Microsoft's new platform is shaping up. Details on Windows 9 are expected to be shared at the end of September, but content tipped to have come from a developer release due around the same time has already surfaced.

Lenovo's new ThinkPad Yoga 11e Chromebook isn't the company's only Chrome OS machine, and latest to the batch is its new N20P Chromebook. Unlike the 11e, the N20P isn't styled after the company's famous all-black ThinkPad notebooks, instead sporting a smooth gray body and lid. What we ultimately get is a Chromebook quite a bit thinner than the aforementioned model, and no less powerful. Read the full SlashGear Review for all the details.